Surviving Sydney Cove by Goldie Alexander

Set in Sydney Cove in 1790 this story revolves around the life and hardships experienced by Elizabeth Harvey as she struggles to survive in a time where food is lacking and disease and crime are on the increase. Lizzie, as she is known, was convicted stealing a linen gown and a silk bonnet worth 7 shillings and transported to Australia on the First Fleet. After trading two onions for a journal, her diary begins. She is employed as a domestic servant on Henry Dodd's farm at Rose Hill. Lizzie intends to post this diary to her younger brother Edward who lives in the Cotswolds in England. As they have been parted these last four years, the entries interweave how she came to be in Botany Bay and present day happenings. She ends up working for a surgeon and looking after his motherless daughter Emily. She is thirteen and how different her life is to that of a thirteen year old Australian girl these days.

This film clip will give readers a background to the book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1uo0kqfhoc&feature=related

Zizzy Zing by Ursula Dubosarsky

The author's name is a real mouthful but she writes amazing and often complex books. This is her third novel. Phyllis, the main character in the book, discovers a shocking secret from the past. Whilst staying at an old convent school in the Blue Mountains, a mysterious letter arrives. It leads her on a funny and frightening journey by train to Katoomba where she meets Elizabeth who is wearing strange attire. The nun who is accompanying Phyllis, Sister Monica, suddenly disappears and then she finds herself in Elizabeth's house staring at the body of a dead child. This book has a sinister tone to it and probably would appeal to girls 11-14 years old. The title of the novel comes from an Italian street song called" Naughty Marietta" which Elizabeth plays on an old record player. Read the lyrics to the song on the following web page:

http://www.rhapsody.com/jeanette-macdonald/san-francisco-other-favorites/italian-street-song-from-naughty-marietta/lyrics.html

Or listen to it at this website:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UElHgLigwyI

I feel sorry for Phyllis having to listen to this song!

This hardback edition is now classified as "hard to find."

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

I liked the book more the film only because I feel the characters are not really developed enough in the movie.

The book was originally written in German but was translated into English in 2002. If you like Harry Potter books then you will most likely appreciate the novels by Funke. Running away to Venice seemed like a good idea to Bo and Prosper after their mother's death given that she loved the city so much. Following a difficult journey, they find a place with other homeless children who live in an abandoned theatre. Their leader is the charming, slightly mysterious Scipio, known as the Thief Lord. Like Robin Hood, Scipio robs the rich to provide his poor friends with food and the necessities of life. Scipio usually takes jewels, but he's hired to steal a most unusual item for a pawnbroker's wealthy client, a broken wooden wing. The wing as it turns out is part of a magical carousel that has the power to change children into adults, and adults into children. During this adventure, secrets about the characters and their fantastic world are revealed. I have the DVD if anyone in Bay Unit wants to watch it after reading the novel. Here is preview of the film, the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKNgQ75FlzY&feature=related

Boss of the Pool by Robin Klein

One of nine children, Robin Klein has proven herself to be one of Australia's most prolific writers and this slim novel won't disappoint. Shelley, the protagonist is very egocentric and is upset when her mother gets an evening job and she has to stay with her elderly neighbour, Mrs Murray. After a while she reluctantly agrees to go to her mother's workplace, a home for children and adults with special needs. There she meets Ben who much to her chagrin cannot even get her name right; she doesn't even classify him as human but fortunately things change. Ben is petrified of water and Shelley suddenly finds herself in the role of swimming coach. A play script for this novel was written by Mary Morris. It would make a great play.

Read My Mind! by Krista Bell

Krista Bell came to Illawarra Primary a few years back and she had the students very enthralled. I would recommend this book to upper primary and lower secondary girls. It is all about a mother/daughter relationship. I found it hard to put the book down.

Krita Bell has a very extensive website where you can find out much more about this novel as well as her other books.

http://www.kristabell.com/books/readmymind.htm

The Rented House by Phil Cummings

This is an Australian publication (2000) which I would best classify as a mystery. The story is about a stranger who comes to rent a house at 22 Ridley Road. The five children who live down the street from the rented house become suspicious of flashing lights and booming music that emits from it. The stranger is very secretive, has green spiked hair and drives his car like a maniac. When Harley, one of the children's dogs, is kidnapped by the stranger they become angry and frightened. I would recommend that readers from 9-12. There is another book about the rented house called On the Run which was published in 2001. Both these books are hard to get hold of.

See this book promo and see if you think it is the book for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gil-Kuk-9mg

Two Weeks With the Queen by Morris Gleitzman

There are now two copies of this book in the unit, so you could read it athe same time as a friend, which is always fun.

Two Weeks with the Queen was another book I had to read in one sitting. The story revolves around Colin, whose younger brother has cancer. Colin is sent to stay with relatives in London and decides that he can do something to help his brother. It is a combination of humour and pathos and would be enjoyed by any upper primary student. Here is Colin's letter to the Queen:

"Dear Your Majesty the Queen,

I need to speak to you urgently about my brother Luke. He's got cancer and the doctors in Australia are being really slack. If I could borrow your top doctor for a few days I know he/she would fix things in no time. Of course Mum and Dad would pay his/her fares even if it meant selling the car or getting a loan. Please contact me at the above address urgently.

Yours sincerely,

Colin Mudford."

Listen to chapter 1 by clicking the link below:

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_2wks_audio.html